The clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1883-1888, 1887-02-23
The City Hall Rooms.

Thirty-two years ago, through the
active efforts of Hon. 0. r. Singleton,
the city of Jackson received from the
U. S. Government $40, 900 for the apart
ments in the City Hall building for the
use of the Federal Courts and officials.
To the credit of Col. Singleton it should
also be remembered that at the closing
hours of the 45th Congress, on his
motion the House took up and passed
the bill to erect the new United States
building in this city. For thirty years,
the City Hall apartments were used ex-
clusively for United States Court pur-
poses. Recently they were vacated by
the United States officials. Thereupon,
joint resolutions were offered in the
Senate and the House by Senator George
and Representative Barksdale, respect
lively, for their transfer to the city. The
resolutions have passed both Houses, as
will be seen by the extract which we
copy below; and the apartments are
again the property of the city:
Mr.. BARKsDALE. | ask unanimous
consent to the consideration of a matter
which will not take FIVE minutes. 1t
involves no appropriation, and is purely
local. My request is that the Commit
tee of the Whole House on the state of
the Union be discharged from the fur
Their consideration of the Joint resolu-
t;o,1 re- ID KIN ~
the Department of Justice to transfer
certain rooms which have been occupied
by the United States Courts to the city
of Jackson, Miss, and that the same be
put upon its passage.
The joint resolution was read, as fol
lows:
Resolued, &c., That the Department OF
Justice be, and is hereby, authorized and
directed to transfer and relinquish to the
city of Jackson, State of Mississippi, all
| the right, title, and claim of the United
States to the rooms in what is described as
| the town-hall building in said city, which
have been used tor the United States
Courts and the officials thereof under a
deed executed on the 18th day of Febru-
airy, A. ID. 1856, it having been condition
of the deed that the rooms were to be used
exclusively for the purposes above speci-
| fed, and the same having been entirely
abandoned by the said courts and the off
Gals thereof, new building having been
erected by the Government for the conve-
nience and occupancy of said United States
Courts, and the Attorney General having
decided that the aforementioned rooms in
| the town hall could not be used by
the Government, under said deed, for any
other purposes than those specified in the
grant.
Mr.. BRAGG. | should like to know
whether the facts set forth in the bill
are sustained by proofs.
| Mr.. BARKsDALE. / will state that this
resolution passed the Senate, after CON
sideration, by unanimous vote, having
been reported by the committee of that
body, and that it was unanimously re-
ported by the committee of the House
after q due consideration of all the facts
upon the report of the Attorney General,
and / personally know that all the facts
stated are correct.
| Mr.. HOLMAN. | hope there will be
| some further explanation.
| Mr.. BARKsDALE. The resolution ex-
plains itself; but the report is very
short, and | ask that it be read. / an
sure it will satisfy the gentleman from
| Indiana.
Mr.. HOLMAN. Let the report b.
read.
The report (by Mr.. Wade) was read
as follows:
| The Committee ON Public Buildings and
Grounds, to whom was referred House
Joint Resolution No. 90, authorizing anG
directing the Department of Justice t.
transfer certain rooms which have beer
occupied by United States Courts In the
city OF jackson, Miss, to the said city, bes
leave respectfully to report that they have
duly considered the same, and recommend
its passage.
Ga the 18th Of February, 1856. the city
of jackson transferred to the United State.
Government certain apartments in what ii
known as the city hall building. for tbs
sum of 10000. The deed set forth thai
the Government was to use the rooms
exclusively for the United States Court.
and the business appertaining thereto
They were used for that purpose unit
1885, period Of twenty-nine years, AND
were then abandoned by the Government
for the occupancy of a new courthouse
which had been erected under an act O.
Congress.
In letter Of October "a, 1885, to thu
Secretary of the Treasury, the Attorney
General states that the limitation pre-
scribed in the deed deprives the Govern
ment of the right to use the rooms for any
other purpose except the one expressly
specified in the deed. In his annual re
port of December, 1885, the Attorney
General reiterates this opinion, and re-
commends that the Government make
a.